Online RN to BSN/MSN

Nurses around desk consulting over a file

 

Apply

The University of South Alabama College of Nursing RN to BSN Pathway is specifically designed to meet the needs of Registered Nurses with a current RN license seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.

The RN to BSN Professional Component consists of courses that address knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are needed to be successful in today’s dynamic healthcare settings. You will enjoy challenging yourself as you explore relevant topics related to modern day professional nursing issues. This program is taught entirely online and is a flexible option for working students who are managing work and family responsibilities as well as educational assignments. Graduates will have the skills to provide enhanced patient care, critique and apply research to clinical practice. Graduates will increase their skills and knowledge about informatics in healthcare, will have a better understanding of global health issues, and will be better prepared to collaborate with the interprofessional team in providing quality care in multiple work settings.

Phase One: BSN Degree

Phase One of the Online RN-BSN/MSN Pathway is the Undergraduate Phase. Students are classified as undergraduate students. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing curriculum consists of two separate components: RN to BSN Prerequisites and RN to BSN Professional Component. The RN to BSN Prerequisites consists of eighteen (18) courses, totaling 59 semester hours. The RN to BSN Professional Component consists of six (6) nursing courses, totaling 24 credit hours.

Professional Component for the Online RN-BSN/MSN Pathway

  1. The Profession Component consists of six (6) fully online nursing courses for a total of 24 credit hours.
  2. These courses must be completed at the University of South Alabama.
  3. Upper division nursing courses taken at another institution will not transfer or apply toward the 24 credit hours required to earn the BSN degree at USA.
  4. Students proceed through the six online nursing courses at their desired pace.
  5. The Professional Component may be completed in a minimum of two (2) semesters.
  6. The Professional Component must be completed within five (5) years of beginning the BSN curriculum.

Professional Component Course Work – 24 Total Credit Hours

  • NU 450 Leadership & Management Roles for Professional Nursing Practice (4 credit hours)
  • NU 451 Current Issues and Trends in Professional Nursing Practice (4 credit hours)
  • NU 452 Clinical Prevention and Population Health (4 credit hours)
  • NU 453 Information Management and Technology in Healthcare (4 credit hours)
  • NU 454 Research and Evidence Based Practice (4 credit hours)
  • NU 455 Concepts of Interprofessional Practice

Phase Two: MSN Degree

Phase Two of the Online RN-BSN/MSN Pathway is the Graduate Phase. As the student nears completion of their BSN degree at USA, qualified students who plan to advance to Phase Two, are required to submit the College of Nursing Supplemental Application by the posted MSN application deadline. Please contact the Graduate Advisors at congradapp@southalabama.edu for additional information regarding this application process.

▼   RN-BSN Prerequisite Courses – 59 Total Credit Hours

Written Communication

  • English Composition I 3 credit hours
  • English Composition II 3 credit hours

Humanities and Fine Arts

  • Fine Arts (Select from: Music, Drama, or Art) 3 credit hours
  • *Literature elective (Examples: American, British, or World) 3 credit hours
  • Humanities elective (See options below) 3 credit hours
  • Humanities elective (See options below) 3 credit hours
  • Humanities Electives include: Second Literature for Required Sequence, or
  • Philosophy, Foreign Language, Music, Art, Drama, Communications, or Religion

History/Social and Behavioral Sciences

  • Introduction to Psychology or a Psychology Elective 3 credit hours
  • *History elective (US, World or Western Civilization) 3 credit hours
  • History/Social/Behavioral Science elective (See options below) 3 credit hours
  • History/Social/Behavioral Science elective (See options below) 3 credit hours
  • History/Social/Behavioral Science Electives include: Second History for the
  • Required Sequence, or Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Geography,
  • Criminal Justice, Economics, or Anthropology

Natural Sciences & Mathematics

  • College Algebra, Finite Math, or Pre-Calculus 3 credit hours
  • Chemistry with a Lab OR Biology with a Lab 4 credit hours
  • Take a Second Natural Science with a Lab 4 credit hours (See options below)
  • Natural Science with Lab includes any of the following: Biology, Chemistry,
  • Geology, Physics, or Astronomy.

Additional Pre-Nursing Requirements

  • Microbiology with Lab 4 credit hours
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab 4 credit hours
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab 4 credit hours
  • Statistics 3 credit hours
  • Computer Elective 3 credit hours

*Required Sequence: All students must complete one History elective and one Literature elective. In addition, you must also complete a second History or second Literature to complete a two course sequence in either History or Literature, in the same exact subject.

▼   BSN Graduation
Students must apply for graduation to be awarded the BSN degree. The application must be submitted by the deadline for the semester the student completes all degree requirements. The USA Graduation Application and posted application deadlines for each semester are located on the USA Registrar’s Website.
▼   MSN Specialties

Students may pursue the following specialties: Informatics, Nursing Administration, Clinical Nurse Leader, or Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult/Gerontological Nursing. Students who wish to pursue nurse practitioner preparation must obtain a minimum of 2 years of clinical experience before beginning clinical nurse practitioner specialty courses and have a competitive overall undergraduate GPA to compete for a seat in the NP specialty they select. Courses for the specialty component of the curriculum are offered online. Clinical requirements are completed in faculty-facilitated preceptorships.

  • Nursing Informatics
  • Nursing Administration
  • Clinical Nurse Leader
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist-AG
  • Adult-Geron Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Adult-Geron Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Psychiatric (Family) Nurse Practitioner
  • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
  • Dual Role (Family NP/Adult-Geron Acute Care NP)
  • Dual Role (Family NP/Emergency NP)

To preview all the specialties for the MSN degree, please see the MSN Specialties webpage.

▼   MSN Graduation

The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is awarded at the successful completion of Phase Two. Students MUST apply for graduation to be awarded their MSN degree at the end of Phase Two. Applications for Graduation are found on the Registrar’s website.

 

Contact Information

Dr. Pam Johnson - Program Coordinator 
Email: conrn2bsn@southalabama.edu

Kristyn Seawell – RN-BSN Academic Advisor
Email: conrn2bsn@southalabama.edu